Category: News

Former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart made Stephen Colbert and his audience uncomfortable on the “Late Show” Monday night when he went on a rant about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stewart believes the virus probably came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, instead of the once near universally accepted belief that it emerged from wet markets in the area.

“Science has, in many ways, helped ease the suffering of this pandemic … which was more than likely caused by science,” he said to nervous laughter.

Jon Stewart On Vaccine Science And The Wuhan Lab Theory

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Colbert believes that there’s “a chance” that the virus leaked out of the lab.

“A chance? Oh my god!” Stewart replied. “There’s a novel respiratory coronavirus overtaking Wuhan, China, what do we do? Oh, you know who we could ask? The Wuhan novel respiratory coronavirus lab.

“The disease is the same name as the lab! That’s just a little too weird, don’t you think?” he continued.

Stewart then dealt a series of hilarious metaphors to put his theory in perspective.

“There’s been an outbreak of chocolatey goodness near Hershey, Pennsylvania — what do you think happened?” he said of another scenario.

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe a steam shovel mated with a cocoa bean … or it’s the f—ing chocolate factory. Maybe that’s it!” he said.

“‘I have been alone so long, and when I realized that the laboratory was having the same name — first name and last name — of the evil that had been plaguing us, I thought to myself, ‘That’s f–ed up,'” he said.

Colbert countered Stewart’s opinion with a pretty strong argument.

“It could be possible that they have the lab … because in Wuhan there are a lot of coronavirus diseases because of the bat population there,” he suggested.

Stewart’s comments have been controversial because as a prominent liberal, they appear to confirm some of Donald Trump’s thoughts on the virus’s origin.

In late April and early May of 2020, Trump claimed he had a “high degree of confidence” that the virus came from a lab.

At the time, many of Trump’s critics pushed back against the claim, calling it a conspiracy theory or an attempt to blame China for the virus. Which makes sense because Trump routinely peddled conspiracy theories and tried to scapegoat China for COVID-19 calling it the “China virus.”

However, Trump backed off the theory after the spring of 2020 and never released any information that would have confirmed the idea.

Stewart’s thoughts also rightly make many uncomfortable because Americans have a historical desire for retaliation and promoting the lab-leak theory could lead to an overreaction like we had after 9/11. It could also exacerbate the growing number of racist incidents against Asians.

The truth is nobody knows the virus’s origin. But there is growing circumstantial evidence that the lab-leak theory should be considered. A Wall Street Journal report revealed that three researchers at the lab were hospitalized in November 2019. The new information has caused the Biden administration to order a new intelligence investigation into the virus’s origins.

Last month, Dr. Anthony Fauci admitted that it may be a possibility.

“That possibility certainly exists, and I am totally in favor of a full investigation of whether that could have happened,” Fauci said.

Colbert’s reaction to Stewart’s opinion highlights a major problem in political discourse in the United States: if the other side believes something, it must be wrong. Democrats have leaned into being the party of science over the past generation by embracing environmental science and evolution.

Liberals have also been better at fighting back against the COVID-19 virus by wearing masks and getting vaccinated.

At a time when we don’t know the origins of COVID-19, liberal thought leaders like Colbert should put science before party and keep an open mind, even if it means having to possibly say that Donald Trump was right about one thing.

As the old saying goes there are “those who want to get it right” and “those who want to be right.” Regardless of party, we should all be on team-get-it-right so that we can prevent the next pandemic.

Back in 2016, Islands announced their retirement from music to focus on other pursuits. The retirement was short lived, however, and now the band is back with a brand new album called Islomania. Despite the extended break, the new album picks up right where the group left off, complete with jangly guitars and infectious shimmering melodies that have arrived just in time for Hot Vax Summer.

To celebrate the new album, frontman Nick Thorburn sat down to talk Megan Thee Stallion, Uncle Buck, and Lollapalooza ’94 in the latest Indie Mixtape 20 Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Misunderstood genius, woefully unappreciated.

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

If anyone remembers me in 2050, I’ll be pleased as punch. I don’t want to get greedy, but if they remember me fondly, I’d very much like that. But ultimately, I’ll settle with just being remembered at all.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?

Zagreb, Croatia. These people really get it. They get a perfect audience score from me, 10 out of 10 every time.

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

Brian Eno has been a touchstone since starting Islands. As a fellow non-musician who relies heavily on instinct, I often think of the way Eno would work, either as a producer, or alongside Roxy Music, with his early vocal records or his subsequent ambient music. He approaches writing and songcraft from a place that few technically proficient musicians do, and I identify with that.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

Every time I go home, my mom cooks what is always the best meal of my life. Nothing can beat your mom’s home cooking, am I right?

What album do you know every word to?

Velvet Underground’s Loaded.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?

I don’t know if it was the best, but a very pivotal concert was my first — Lollapalooza ’94. I was 12, and Smashing Pumpkins were one of my favorite bands. Green Day played first (and stayed at the same Super 8 as me!) and A Tribe Called Quest, George Clinton, The Breeders, and Beastie Boys also played. It was a pretty good cross-section of stuff.

What is the best outfit for performing and why?

Something comfy, something loose fitting, perhaps something with an elastic band, or made from soft, stretchy material. No! Comfort is not a factor when performing. You must look incredible and dazzling and glamorous and stylish. You shouldn’t look like you just wandered out of the audience onto the stage. You should look exceptionally attired.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

Any hot and sexy influencer with over 400 thousand followers, because they tend to tell me all of the things I need to buy or wear to be cool and special and interesting and lead a meaningful life just like them.

What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?

It’s a toss-up between “The Hamster Dance” by Hampton The Hamster and “Chase” by Giorgio Moroder. One to annoy the sh*t out of everyone, and the other for those moody late-night drives across an empty stretch of country.

What’s the last thing you Googled?

“what is an uproxx”

What album makes for the perfect gift?

My new album, Islomania, out June 11th.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

The Unicorns crashed our van somewhere between St. Louis and Nashville in February 2004, after hitting black ice, spinning out and hitting both sides of the highway guard rail, nearly flying off a cliff and narrowly avoiding a tractor trailer. I was relieved that the first song on our album “I Don’t Wanna Die” with the line “I see it now, I die in a car on tour” was not, ultimately, a prophetic announcement.

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

At the age of seven, my family up and moved from a small fishing town to another small fishing town much further north in British Columbia. It was a very disruptive thing, moving at such a young age. One of the first things we did was to go see a movie at the local theater. The movie we saw was Uncle Buck, starring Sir John Candy. John Candy is an angel from heaven and his performance in Uncle Buck soothed me. Over the years, I would revisit Uncle Buck whenever I was feeling sad or stressed out, and he became a kind of patron saint to me. I felt it only fitting to get a small picture of his face, from his Uncle Buck-era — my only tattoo — above my left hip-bone, as a small reminder that there are good things in this world.

What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?

If I’m listening to the radio, it’s probably a Hot 97-type thing, and Megan Thee Stallion always has my attention in that sphere. If it’s not Hot 97-ish, I’m probably tuned to some oldies station that’s playing Simon & Garfunkel. I’ll never get enough of those sweet sweet harmonies from Garfunkel.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Gonna have to go with what I can only assume is the standard answer here, and give it up to moms and dad for summoning me to Earth.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

Again, everyone probably answers this the same, but I’d tell myself to a) kill John Connor and b) try and enjoy your youth while you still got it. You’re not as ugly and pathetic as you think you are!

What’s the last show you went to?

Martin Rev (from Suicide) solo show in LA at Zebulon in February 2020. It was extremely loud and incredibly antagonistic! I can always appreciate when a show is the musical equivalent of a middle finger.

What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?

Uncle Buck, naturally!

What would you cook if Obama were coming to your house for dinner?

The theme would be “2008 Afghan wedding” and it wouldn’t be any good, partially because I don’t think I could master the subtle flavors of Afghan cooking and partially because he drone bombed an Afghan wedding in 2008, killing 47 civilians including the bride.

Islomania is out now on Royal Mountain Records. Listen here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.

In the lead-up to releasing his new album, Hall Of Fame, Polo G gave an interview with Complex in which he restricted the possibility of collaboration with elite rappers like J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar to one crucial condition: his own improvement as a straightforward, bars-first spitter. Now, having heard Hall Of Fame in its entirety, I can confidently say that he was being way too modest and he’s not as far away from that upper echelon as he seems to think. In fact, the best moments on the album come when he operates in that mode more than any other.

That isn’t to say that he should shrink his focus or his drive for more mainstream, playlist-friendly hits. If anything, he shows that he has the versatility to tackle a wide range of subjects and styles — or at least, he will, with a tad bit more practice. For now, songs like “For The Love Of New York” feel out of his reach and out of place with an album that sticks mostly to Polo’s established talents: Painting pictures of his tormented, Windy City upbringing and the dreams of excavating something of value from the scenes of carnage.

That’s the rather literal note on which the album opens. “Painting Pictures” might be on the nose as a song title, but it’s also fitting, as Polo fleshes out the characters that have populated his world as a former resident of Old Town Chicago, where the infamous Cabrini-Green high-rise projects used to tower. “Lil Wooski ain’t your average teen, he see the opps, gon’ bang it out,” he rhapsodizes somberly. “They killed Lamp, he took three with him, they all know what your name about.”

But it’s not all melancholy. Polo’s circumstances are in a state of transition, which is reflected in the project’s cover. As opposed to the dark, moody cover images for Die A Legend and GOAT, the cover for Hall Of Fame is brighter, echoing the sentiments expressed on songs like “Rapstar” and “Fame & Riches” featuring Roddy Ricch. Polo is literally and figuratively moving out of a dark place in his life, trying to maintain his optimism for the future as he acknowledges the trauma and turmoil in his past (see: “No Return” with Lil Durk). But in doing so, he’s faced with a dilemma — an enviable one, to be sure, but a dilemma nonetheless.

As with many young stars on the precipice of greatness — he’s certainly set the bar high enough, with his album titles telling us exactly how he wants to be seen when all is said and done — he’s got a decision to make about how best to get there. On the one hand, if he sticks with what got him here, he can appease longtime, day-one fans, and build on their goodwill with increasingly polished craftsmanship a la heroes like Cole, Kendrick, and Lil Wayne, who Polo goes bar-for-bar with on “Gang Gang.” Like Cole and Kendrick, though, this means struggle: Struggle with meeting fans’ admittedly hazy standards for greatness; struggle with mental health and anxiety as he dwells on such traumatic material and the pressure to live up to his and fans’ expectations; struggle to connect on a commercial level.

Both Cole and Kendrick were well into the second decades of their respective careers before achieving their first No.1s. Polo already has, so there’s going to be added pressure to continue to perform, and proportional ridicule should he be perceived to decline or stall out. Fans will demand growth but will reject it if it doesn’t come on their terms. Polo’s insistence that he needs to get better at the craft before attempting to work with these elders suggests that he understands this.

However, pursuing playlist exposure and radio hits has its own dangers. As with some of the sunnier songs in this set, such pop reaches can clash with his already established image as a survivor of Chicago’s trenches. He’s managed to balance commercial viability with that image so far thanks to his breakout hit “Pop Out” and songs like “Rapstar,” but should popular trends shift even a little, he may be out of luck. He already faces criticism of his beat choices, which find him more often than not rapping in a torn legato cadence over moody pianos, but stepping out of his comfort zone means risking the ire of day-ones. Remaining in it means competing with similar acts like Rod Wave, with whom he’s wisely collaborated twice (once on Wave’s SoulFly and once here on “Heart Of A Giant”) to provide a contrast test for their respective sounds, but the lane is still rapidly filling up, and we’ve seen how quickly tastes can change within hip-hop.

Hall Of Fame positions Polo to make either of these choices well enough while also highlighting the potential danger in choosing either. It also shows that they are not mutually exclusive. He shows mastery of the pen on the upbeat tracks and mostly good instincts on the pop reaches (the Nicki Minaj feature notwithstanding). Now, I think, the important thing for him to do is put some distance between his projects — three lengthy releases in back-to-back years leave him with little life experience to speak on and expand his range of topics, which is something he’ll want to do to achieve the sort of longevity that will lead to him fulfilling his dream of making it to the hallowed halls of rap’s greatest of all time.

Hall Of Fame is out now via Columbia Records. Get it here.

This summer, everyone’s heading back to the movies but what does that mean for the indie filmmaking scene?

Whether you’ve been streaming Oscar-winning titles like Nomadland at home this past year or you’re hoping your local arthouse theater opens up soon, indie films are dominating the conversation when it comes to pop culture. So, of course, we had to get our resident entertainment gurus to weigh in on the movie industry’s changing landscape in a way only they could.

Obsessed host Taylour Chanel is joined this time by actress, Youtuber, and all-around queen Drew Dorsey as the pair take a look at how indie movies have shifted mainstream recently. The ladies dig into what that means for representation on film — and how Hollywood greenlighting more indies means we’re getting some totally kick-a** storytelling on-screen before welcoming actor-turned-director Justin Chon (you might recognize him from the Twilight franchise) to get his insight on how movie-making has evolved thanks to the current streaming era.

Chon’s Blue Bayou was just picked up by Focus Features after screening at the Cannes virtual film market and it’s set to drop sometime this summer. Before it does, Chon chatted with our hosts about the long journey from script to screen, his past indie work, the increased diversity he’s seeing in front of (and behind) the camera, and why movie-lovers really should be going all-in when it comes to indie films this blockbuster season.

Remember Kanye West’s “Lift Yourself“? The first two minutes of the 2018 song are carried by a vintage soul sample, which is a pretty typically West move. Then, (in)famously, West starts rapping nonsense lyrics that play off the words “poop” and “scoop.” For example, here’s a passage: “Poopy-di scoop / Scoop-diddy-whoop / Whoop-di-scoop-di-poop / Poop-di-scoopty / Scoopty-whoop.”

Well, today brings good news for “Lift Yourself” fans: The spirit of the song is alive and well here in 2021. Yesterday, West’s daughter North celebrated her eighth birthday and she did so by having a poop-themed birthday party. Kim Kardashian shared some photos of the proceedings on Instagram, including a group shot of North and her friends all wearing brown full-body pajamas made to look like a poop emoji. She captioned the image with a nod to “Lift Yourself,” writing, “Poop Diddy Scoop kinda slumber party [poop emojis].”

Kardashian also shared an Instagram post about North’s special day, writing, “My 1st born baby North is 8 years old today! North, one day you will see these messages all printed out for you in the books I am making for you and so hope you feel the love because you bring so much love and joy into all of our lives! You are the silliest, most stylish, most creative person who knows exactly what they want in life! I’ve never met anyone like you! I picked these BTS to post of North and I from this Steven Klein Jackie O shoot bc it just reminded me of the bond North and I share and he always captures the emotion so well!”

Kelsey Plum picked apart the New York Liberty for a career-high 32 points in a 100-78 blowout win on Tuesday night. She was unstoppable, connecting on 11 of her 16 shots from the field including a trio of triples. She added five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and just two turnovers in 30 minutes.

The Aces are rolling now, winning four games in a row and seven of their last eight. But this win was especially important, even though the Liberty were without Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Howard. Plum missed the entirety of last season due to a torn Achilles, which never guarantees a full recovery. Even though last year’s WNBA Finals MVP Breanna Stewart and NBA All-Star Kevin Durant have both bounced back in a big way from their own respective Achilles injuries, this is still one of the most daunting things that can happen to a player.

Still, it’s being proven that an Achilles can be a bump in the road, and fortunately for the Aces, Plum is showing that it’s one that she can emphatically overcome.

“I don’t know a harder worker than Kelsey Plum …” her teammate Liz Cambage said, according to The Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s Sam Gordon. “She loves this game more than anybody I know.”

In her first season back since the injury, Plum has played six games for the Aces and six games for Team USA at the Olympic qualifiers for the 3×3 competition. Along with teammates Allisha Gray, Katie Lou Samuelson, and Stefanie Dolson, the U.S. earned a ticket to Tokyo with a perfect 6-0 record. Plum averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.

Settling into a bench role with the Aces, Plum had a so-so start to the year. Through the first five games, she made just 11 shots from the field for 37 total points. She played fewer than 20 minutes in two of those games largely due to the team’s signing of All-Star point guard Chelsea Gray and the emergence of 2019 No. 1 pick Jackie Young. But Plum’s explosion against the Liberty shows just how deep this Aces team is.

Plum’s speed and craftiness were on display against a young New York backcourt. She found her way to the rim off a number of in-and-out dribble series and wrong-foot layups getting past her defender. Those quick bursts are encouraging after her injury.

Plum also capitalized on the Liberty’s sloppiness, poking away two steals of her own, and profiting on the other end with fast-break layups.

She also looked for her own shot more than usual. The NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball’s all-time scoring leader has developed a pass-first mentality since entering the pros, but in this game, she brought her University of Washington Huskies range.

The Aces were WNBA general managers’ pick to win the 2021 championship for good reason: They’re totally stacked. Last year’s MVP A’ja Wilson leads the team in scoring, the 6’8 Cambage is a terror on the low block, Gray slices up defenses, Dearica Hamby is a non-stop engine, Young is breaking out as a mid-range threat, and now Plum, the team’s seventh woman, is dropping 30-point games. It’s scary to think that they won’t be at full health either, with All-Star Angel McCoughtry sitting the rest of the season due to a torn ACL.

Vegas’s only losses have come to the two other best teams in the league; twice to the Connecticut Sun, and once to the reigning champion Seattle Storm. But as time passes, this group is starting click. Remember — Gray, Cambage, and Plum all weren’t with the 2020 team that reached the WNBA Finals.

The Aces are starting to catch fire. Circle their June 27 matchup with the Storm on your calendar.

Welcome to SNX DLX, our weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the market. We’re at a milestone today, as this is the final SNX to be published in Spring 2021. This time next week, we’ll officially be in the summer season which means we’ve made it halfway through 2021’s sneaker offerings. This year has gone fast! So far, it’s been an incredible year for shoes, far surpassing 2020 in terms of both quality and frequency, though last year was a pandemic year so 2021 has a slight edge, as the big brands have since adapted to this weird world we live in now.

The Summer to Holiday season tends to bring some of the year’s best shoes, so considering how strong these last six months have been, we’re pretty hyped for what’s to come. But this week is no slouch, the big brands are closing out Spring in style, we’ve got new sneakers from New Balance kicking off the brand’s celebration of the 990’s 40th anniversary, new high top and low top Dunks from Nike, and a triple Yeezy drop. Let’s dive in!

New Balance MADE 990v1 Version Series

Leading up to the 40th anniversary of New Balance’s iconic 990, NB will be paying tribute to the sneaker’s various versions in the sneaker’s history, starting with this week’s Version 1. Dressed in classic New Balance grey and made in the USA, the 990v1 features an upper composed of mesh and suede paneling with leather accents across the “N” logo, with an ecru midsole and a chrome heel.

To indicate the version, the sneaker features a red “Version 1” tag that tonally matches the tongue. It’s a celebration of New Balance’s best sneaker, and we’re psyched to see what the brand has in store for v2, v3, and v4.

The New Balance MADE 990v1 is set to drop on June 17th at 10 am EST for a retail price of $175. Pick up a pair at the New Balance webstore.

New Balance Vision Racer Grey

To date, every pair of Jaden Smith’s New Balance Vision Racer has been flashy and futuristic, but this week brings an understated take on the chunky-soled silhouette — dressing it in a classic neutral New Balance grey. In keeping with Jaden’s commitments to sustainability, the Vision Racer features a recycled polyester and synthetic leather upper. With partially recycled insoles made from castor bean oil, recycled foam, and recycled rubber atop a repurposed foam EVA Regrind midsole with grey shades throughout atop an icy blue translucent midsole.

Oh, and it’s vegan-friendly! It’s one part forward-thinking and sustainable, one part classic New Balance style.

The New Balance Vision Racer Grey is set to drop on June 18th at 10 am Eastern for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.

Nike Dunk High x AMBUSH Deep Royal

Nike has linked up with the iconic Yoon Ahn for a modern take on the high-top Dunk via Ahn’s AMBUSH label. Featuring an aerodynamic design inspired by Japan’s bike, car, and truck culture, this reimagining features an oversized swoosh with a strong heel counter, and a matte black swoosh over a rich royal blue and white leather upper.

Other details include a dual-branded exposed foam tongue with branded sock liners, and embossed AMBUSH branding. Ahn’s goal was to make a Dunk that looked like it was in motion and we’re going to go ahead and say he’s nailed the concept.

The Nike Dunk High x AMBUSH Deep Royal is out now for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair at aftermarket sites like StockX.

Nike Dunk Low Dusty Olive

Nike’s release calendar would indicate that the brand is attempting to make summer 2021 all about the Dunk and kicking off that plan is this beautiful Dusty Olive take on the low-top sneaker. Inspired by a Japanese-exclusive colorway from 20 years ago (part of the Ugly Ducking pack, if you’re a Dunk head), the Dusty Olive features a soft suede olive green upper with mocha brown and gold accents on the toe box, laces, and heel, with a golden wraparound swoosh.

The Nike Dunk Low Dusty Olive is set to drop on June 17th for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

NOAH x Adidas Probound/Noah Rod Laver

New York-based streetwear brand has linked up with Adidas to drop a new summer-leaning nautical-themed collection which in addition to apparel includes two sneaker drops, the Adidas Probound and Rod Laver. If you’re scratching your head over those sneaker names it’s probably because both the Probound and Rod Laver come from Adidas archives and aren’t silhouettes that get much love or attention these days, which is really a shame.

But leave it to NOAH to celebrate vintage Adidas style! The Probound is a classic low-top basketball sneaker featuring a leather upper with a colorway that mixes Cloud White, Blue Bird, and Collegiate Navy atop a standard rubber outsole. The Rod Laver features a more vintage, tennis-inspired shape with a synthetic suede upper, a sea-themed shell logo at the heel, with a Cloud White, Green, and Collegiate Navy colorway.

Both the Probound and Rod Laver are set to drop alongside the NOAH x Adidas Spring Summer 2021 collection on June 17th at 7:00 am PST for a retail price of $100 and $120 respectively. Pick up both pairs via the Adidas CONFIRMED app.

Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Mono Series

We might be light on sneaker drops this week, but we’re also getting three different colorways of the Yeezy Boost 350 V2, so it feels like a huge week regardless. Dubbed the “Mono Series” this three-sneaker drop consists of monochrome colorways based on naturally occurring substances. We’ve got the earthy Clay, the chilly Ice, which is our personal favorite, and the moody Mist, which should really be called Smog, but hey who am I to tell Kanye what to name his shoes.

All three are pretty dope with a revamped monofilament mesh upper and a translucent design that allows you to appreciate the inner workings of the shoe. For whatever reason, Yeezy Brand is advising people to order a 1/2 size up, not sure if that’s the result of a production error or it has something to do with the new mesh upper, but we’re glad the brand is making it obvious to anyone attempting to purchase a pair.

The Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Mono Series is set to drop on June 18th for a retail price of $220. Grab the Mono Ice at GOAT or Flight Club or pick up a pair of the Clay and Mist at the Adidas webstore or at Yeezy Supply.

Union LA x Air Jordan 4 Tent and Trail

Los Angeles-based retailer and label Union LA has an impressive record when it comes to fire Jordan collabs, and this week’s Tent and Trail collection continues that trend with two earthy summer colorways of the Jordan 4. The pack consists of a Desert Moss colorway which combines mustard, teal, and purple, and Taupe Haze, which combines teal, with shades of earthy grey suede and mesh.

Both sneakers give off heavy trail vibes, which is fitting for the upcoming summer we’re about to spend back outdoors. However, though these may look fit for the trail, you probably shouldn’t do any hiking in these. Your feet will get dirty, and you’ll probably just ruin these works of sneaker art.

The Union LA x Air Jordan 4 Tent and Trail collection is set to drop on June 20th for a retail price of $250. Pick up the Desert Moss and Taupe Haze at GOAT.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Like many other major festivals, iHeartRadio‘s 2021 event is vying to make a return this fall. The Las Vegas festival has invited some of today’s biggest stars to take the stage, including Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Lil Baby.

This year’s two-day event officially runs from September 18 to 19 and takes place at Vegas’ massive T-Mobile Arena. Along with Eilish, Lipa, and Lil Baby, some of the other artists invited to the stage include Olivia Rodrigo, DaBaby, The Kid Laroi, Saweetie, Yungblud, 24kGoldn, Addison Rae, Coldplay, Maroon 5, Florida Georgia Line, Cheap Trick, Nelly, Journey, Weezer, Sam Hunt, All Time Low, Conan Gray, Tate McRae, Khalid, and more.

In a statement about the 2021 festival, iHeartMedia’s Chief Programming Officer Tom Poleman said the event is slated to be a “historic” one. “This year’s Festival will be historic for many reasons,” Poleman said. “Not only will it be the first time all of these artists are together on the same stage, but also because it’ll be in front of a live audience. We’ve all been waiting for this moment — live music is back, and we’ll be celebrating like never before.”

Tickets to iHeartRadio’s 2021 festival are on sale 6/25 at 11 a.m. PST. Get them here.

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Dallas Mavericks are entering a critical offseason with Luka Doncic as their clear present and future as a superstar, but with plenty of uncertainty around him with regards to the roster. Tim Hardaway Jr. is a free agent, trade rumors are swirling about Kristaps Porzingis given his struggles in the postseason, and overall the roster needs upgrades to become a real contender in the West.

Early in the week, a bombshell report dropped in which much of the blame for Dallas’ internal dysfunction was laid at the feet of pro gambler turned executive Haralabos Voulgaris, calling him a “shadow GM” and with many examples of him apparently overstepping his role and becoming far more powerful in decision-making within the organization than maybe anyone, including GM Donnie Nelson. It wasn’t hard to figure out who was likely one of the chief sources in that story, as Nelson would understandably be one of the most frustrated individuals about a shift of power as described in The Athletic’s piece, but what came next was something no one expected.

Nelson, who has been with the Mavs since 1998, has “parted ways” with the organization as of Wednesday, leading them into their most critical offseason in years with a new top priority of finding a new GM.

It is hard not to see this as, at least in some way, tied to that internal dysfunction, but the decision reportedly came before the story ran.

All of this is to say, Dallas has some serious work to do internally to figure things out, but they now get a chance to reset with a new GM and, possibly, more shakeups in their front office structure before they get into a very important draft, free agency, and trade season.

Ever since Harley Quinn co-creator Justin Halpern revealed that DC Comics prevented the already raunchy animated series from showing Batman performing oral sex on Catwoman, naturally, social media has been having a field day with the topic all week. But just when it seemed like the memes were coming to a dull roar, Val Kilmer has entered the chat.

Making him the first Batman to weigh in on the “Does the Dark Knight go downtown?” debate, Kilmer showed he’s aware of the conversation by tweeting out a GIF from Batman Forever on Wednesday with the caption, “Does he or doesn’t he…?” And while that seems like Kilmer is leaving the question open-ended, the GIF does anything but.

“We could give it a try. I’ll bring the wine,” Kilmer’s Batman says to Nicole Kidman’s Chase Meridian in the erotically-charged rooftop scene. Of course, that would suggest that Kilmer’s Batman has never performed the sex act before, but he’s open to it. Or maybe — possibly… probably — we’re reading too much into this.

Anyway, the topic has produced a non-stop parade of reactions as people still can’t handle Halpern’s anecdotes about DC’s objections to showing Batman pleasuring Catwoman.

“We had a moment where Batman was going down on Catwoman. And DC was like, ‘You can’t do that. You absolutely cannot do that.’” Halpern told Variety. “They’re like, ‘Heroes don’t do that.’ So, we said, ‘Are you saying heroes are just selfish lovers?’ They were like, ‘No, it’s that we sell consumer toys for heroes. It’s hard to sell a toy if Batman is also going down on someone.’”

(Via Val Kilmer on Twitter)